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International relations

Bangladesh PM's daughter denies nepotism driving run for WHO post

Experts urge election transparency as outcome could affect health of billions

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, right, is pictured with her daughter Saima Wazed in 2018. Wazed is running to become the World Health Organization's regional director in South and Southeast Asia.   © EPA/Jiji

NEW DELHI -- An imminent election to choose the next chief of the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region Office (SEARO) has become unusually contentious as the post could influence the health of billions of people.

The vote in about two weeks' time will pit Bangladeshi nominee Saima Wazed, 49, a licensed school psychologist and mental health advocate, against Nepal's Shambhu Prasad Acharya, 65, a WHO veteran with over three decades of experience in public health.

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